Context:
Second Advance Estimates of 2023-24 of Area and Production of Horticultural Crops released
Horticulture Sector:
- Involves production, utilisation and improvement of fruits and vegetables, spices and condiments, ornamental, plantation, medicinal and aromatic plants.
- Contributes about 33% to agriculture Gross Value Added to Indian economy.
- India is the 2nd largest producer of vegetables and fruits in world after China.
- Importance of Horticulture crops –
- Increased profitability for farmers as these crops has high productivity and require less irrigation
- Rich source of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, dietary fibres, etc.
- Horticultural produce serves as raw material for various industries like food processing, pharmaceutical etc.
- Initiatives – Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, National Horticulture Board (NHB)
Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH):
- Centrally Sponsored Scheme
- Aim – Holistic growth of the horticulture sector covering fruits, vegetables and other areas.
- Funding – Government of India contributes 60% of the total outlay for developmental programmes in all the states (except North Eastern and Himalayan states where GOI contributes 90%) & 40% is contributed by State governments.
- 5 major components –
- National Horticulture Mission (NHM)
- Horticulture Mission for North East and Himalayan States (HMNEH)
- National Horticulture Board (NHB)
- Coconut Development Board (CDB) &
- Central Institute of Horticulture (CIH), Nagaland
National Horticulture Board (NHB)
- Genesis – Set up in 1984 on the basis of recommendations of the “Group on Perishable Agricultural Commodities”, headed by Dr M. S. Swaminathan.
- Headquarters – Gurugram.
- Objective – Improve integrated development of Horticulture industry and to help in coordinating, sustaining the production and processing of fruits and vegetables.
Source: PIB
Previous Year Question
Which one of the following best describes the main objective of ‘Seed Village Concept?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2015 Prelims]
(a) Encouraging the farmers to use their own farm seeds and discouraging them to buy the seeds from others.
(b) Involving the farmers for training in quality seed production and thereby to make available quality seeds to others at appropriate time and affordable cost.
(c) Earmarking some villages exclusively for the production of certified seeds.
(d) Identifying the entrepreneurs in the village and providing them technology and finance to set up seed companies.
Answer: (b)
